Efficacy of pentosan polysulfate for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: results of a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

AbstractBackground: Among the numerous therapeutic approaches used in the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) only few have been assessed with a sufficient level of evidence. Safety and efficacy of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) has been shown in several open-label and comparative clinical trials with different populations including two meta-analyses. In the context of the approval procedure of PPS for the treatment of IC/BPS by the European Medicines Agency we updated the findings of the previous analyses by incorporating the results of the latest studies.Method: Relevant studies based on a systematic review of PubMed/Medline and the Cochrane Library in June 2018 have been identified. For completeness control, clinical trial registries were also searched. Only randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials providing sufficient information to estimate at least one relevant effect size measure to compare the efficacy of PPS versus placebo were included in an analysis.Result...